I didn't see a sarcasm sign. I can never see this happening... surely you jest. We're talking hollywood!!

Yes. An industry where even making a copy of the trailer (including ads for TV shows) isn't permitted without contract and licensing. Surely they realise the ad should be free, and drive people to the thing being advertised?

I love all this talk of iCloud enabled Time Capsules and Airport base stations. It's exactly the direction I think we should be moving in. Unfortunately, I don't think it will be usable here in backwards Australia and potentially other places that have strict bandwidth limitations enforced by ISPs.

I can't receive ADSL at my location (we don't live rurally, just unlucky I guess) so our internet is provided over a 3g connection. The speed is ok I guess, but the kicker is the bandwidth is capped at 12gb per month. That's right, I have to survive a month on a 12gb allowance. Since we moved here i've had to concentrate on adapting how I use the internet and it's really reduced what I do.

I'm assuming that all these cloud based features will really chew up bandwidth. Downloading updates to cache, uploading backups and files for cloud access. I see that chewing through bandwidth caps in two seconds flat which is really a shame because that's how I *want* to use the internet.

I love all this talk of iCloud enabled Time Capsules and Airport base stations. It's exactly the direction I think we should be moving in. Unfortunately, I don't think it will be usable here in backwards Australia and potentially other places that have strict bandwidth limitations enforced by ISPs.

I can't receive ADSL at my location (we don't live rurally, just unlucky I guess) so our internet is provided over a 3g connection. The speed is ok I guess, but the kicker is the bandwidth is capped at 12gb per month. That's right, I have to survive a month on a 12gb allowance. Since we moved here i've had to concentrate on adapting how I use the internet and it's really reduced what I do.

I'm assuming that all these cloud based features will really chew up bandwidth. Downloading updates to cache, uploading backups and files for cloud access. I see that chewing through bandwidth caps in two seconds flat which is really a shame because that's how I *want* to use the internet.

1) what/how have you adjusted your Internet usage to live within the low data cap and low speed.

2) Do you have multiple Macs and iDevices that each download their own copy of each software update?

4) Are the caps due to an inferior (under capitalized) IP or is there some other restriction?

The reasons I ask are:

-- in dealing with adversity, we often define the seeds of the solution

-- a downloading/caching router could alleviate your current problems if you have multiple software updates to similar devices -- similar with syncs.

-- if WiFi HotSpots are available, a portable (battery-powered) router could be a godsend

-- If not, this smells like a business opportunity -- or, at the very least, a community solution

P.S. When I first started doing web development (1997) I lived in the foothills of Tucson, AZ. The only phone service was dial-up (we were lucky to get a second line). All development was online to a proprietary Perl-based system -- so I am aware of some of the challenges and rewards of dealing with a limited resource.

"Swift generally gets you to the right way much quicker." - auxio -

"The perfect [birth]day -- A little playtime, a good poop, and a long nap." - Tomato Greeting Cards -

I think a single 3.5" HDD for a new Time Capsule will be bad, two would be okay, and three disks would be great for a Home Server. I'm not even going to push my luck with four disks or wanting them to be hot swappable.

Thunderbolt port to connect to additional HDDs for those who want more storage???

I can't receive ADSL at my location (we don't live rurally, just unlucky I guess) so our internet is provided over a 3g connection. The speed is ok I guess, but the kicker is the bandwidth is capped at 12gb per month. That's right, I have to survive a month on a 12gb allowance. Since we moved here i've had to concentrate on adapting how I use the internet and it's really reduced what I do.

I'm assuming that all these cloud based features will really chew up bandwidth. Downloading updates to cache, uploading backups and files for cloud access. I see that chewing through bandwidth caps in two seconds flat which is really a shame because that's how I *want* to use the internet.

I think this might be the missing link in most cloud strategies. We need a way to minimise bandwidth usage as much as possible if that's our requirement, and generally manage what we're using.

I have a small allowance on my iPhone data - I'd like something as simple as stopping data usage if it exceeds a certain amount I've nominated in 24 hours (until I enable it again). But for this (and probably iCloud) there's an assumption of available bandwidth. I am, however, VERY pleased that AT&T offers low usage plans for iPhones as this means Apple will have to have thought about that in their design of the iCloud, in contrast to the previous unlimited US plans.

In theory, you could probably make very little change to your current usage at all once this iCloud comes out - syncing only directly with your computer etc... perhaps no change at all. Hopefully iOS upgrades should have lower data requirements which is one positive. But I'd like to see something with advantages of the cloud with little impact too. We'll see Tuesday 3am eh?

In a post-pc world, an individual user would have less ability to hack or bypass DRM and rip off content. If true, then the content providers could concentrate on providing better content, more accessible content -- at better prices.

Surely, Content providers would be more amenable to doing this for the curated iTunes - iOS ecosystem -- than for the relatively wide-open, anything goes system provided by Android.

I push this even farther and say the new Time Capsule will be in the Mac mini-like chassis. Meaning a milled block of aluminium.

Sounds like a good call, and as an outsider wager, with small chances, I would say they revamp it with either a second raid hd, or some flash buffer in it, I would wish.

Edit: having said that I got to give the heads up to two products that together more than make up for the lack of apple cloud so far:
Plex media center and the excellent synology nas systems who have their own media management software for iOS. These two can really untie your hands.

Sounds like a good call, and as an outsider wager, with small chances, I would say they revamp it with either a second raid hd, or some flash buffer in it, I would wish.

Could we see the return of the cube? I did all the calculations after ifixit tore down the Mac mini when it jumped from 6.5" x 6.5" to 7" x 7". It's ripe to get 3-4 HDDs flat or standing on their sides. Plus, I think it works with Apple's aesthetics and resolves actual problems they currently have.

As for it being a "good call" I appreciate the vote of confidence but even I admit that a milled aluminum chassis is a bit of a stretch here even if the entire base is a round plastic disc for 360° transmission.

Quote:

Edit: having said that I got to give the heads up to two products that together more than make up for the lack of apple cloud so far:
Plex media center and the excellent synology nas systems who have their own media management software for iOS. These two can really untie your hands.

I've found that even HP' Media Smart Home Servers are suitable and will backup Macs as Time Machine. Even Windows on them isn't workable remotely. They are cheaply made and the tiny fans can be strangely noisy but over all good product for the price. No real complaints… expect that I want Apple to make one that's better all around.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

So, I guess I should return the Airport Extreme that's being delivered on Tuesday...

Probably, but remember even if we assume they are changing the wireless product line the new ones might might not suit your needs or be a price point that suits your needs. For example, what if they update the AirPort Express to have dual-band goodness, with USB (printing) and Thunderbolt (Time Machine) for $149, then completely discontinue the AirPort Extreme Base Station, and then jump to a $500 Time Capsule. Lucky for you it's not arriving until the day after the keynote and you have a 30 day return policy with no restocking fee if there is a better one on the market.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

deleted - I wish we could delete properly - now I'll have to try and think of something clever to say in this space - come on brain! - there once was a young man from Chernobyl ... - no, it's not happening, sorry.

Many of the most important software concepts were invented in the 70s and forgotten in the 80s.

For it to work as a backup device and a home server, I would hope that the additional disk space can be granted without the backup files being accessible. It would be a shame if someone accidentally deleted your last five years of backups with one key press.

How does that work out currently?

With any security, allowing people access to the HW is the number way to have it stolen or wiped. That said, you can encrypt your TM drive (at least in Lion). iOS already has encryption on the NAND so that should also be secure, but we're talking about platter drives here.

Also in Lion you can encrypt your entire drive, not just your Home Folder as is the case with SL. This means your TM backups are also encrypted. When you d/encrypt your drive in Lion it does over several hours while you are using it. I think SL's user level encryption required you to wait.

I haven't played with it much because it's pretty serious encryption with plenty of warnings. You can't specify passcode for it. It generates a 24 alphanumeric Recovery Key (How strong is it: 36^24 = 2.24522577 × 10^37 = 2,245,225,770,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000)

You can choose to have Apple store it (which isn't yet live) and even the Recovery HD option may have the option to retrieve it if you lose your password.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

As has been said time & time again, for what a vast majority of the computer using population actually do, a stand-alone iPad would be the perfect device. Ease-of-use computer intended for casual computing in a relaxed manner; no muss, no fuss…

I think that the iPad being a 'complimentary' device is just a short-term smoke screen, intended to get the product out there in the public eye. Apple will use the first (and possibly second) generation of this device to 'feel the waters' as it were, to see how the majority of computer users react to a controlled system. I believe there are plenty of end users who don't care about what is happening 'under the hood' of their operating system, those who could care less about a file system (or even really understand the underlying concepts of a file system, for that matter), and those who do not feel the need to change & tweak their system for 'optimal performance'…

As the iPad matures, I think that the idea of tying it to a Time Capsule & a MobileMe account will be the best initial path towards it becoming a 'stand-alone' device.

Long story short, I believe, if the new Time Capsule turns out as currently expected; this will be the start of Apple giving us the Apple Home Server (of which I have also expounded upon more than once in these forums) to complement the 'new' paradigm of computing; that being assorted smartphones, tablets & media devices (TV) being sorted & synced to the central unit (the Home Server)… Power users will, of course, still buy laptops & iMacs and the such…

Now, this info makes sense because the biggest problem with the cloud is that Internet is asymmetrical for most.
It also has the potential to 'fix' several annoying things about iOS like not being able to update the OS on the iDevices themselves (while this is already possible with Apple TV) and downloading the same OS multiple times.

Long story short, I believe, if the new Time Capsule turns out as currently expected; this will be the start of Apple giving us the Apple Home Server (of which I have also expounded upon more than once in these forums) to complement the 'new' paradigm of computing; that being assorted smartphones, tablets & media devices (TV) being sorted & synced to the central unit (the Home Server) Power users will, of course, still buy laptops & iMacs and the such

Long story short, I believe, if the new Time Capsule turns out as currently expected; this will be the start of Apple giving us the Apple Home Server

Start I hope it is a reality! Ideally this will be a server that can live without 24/7 Internet access and is suitably portable.

As it is I was in the Apple store just a couple of weeks ago looking at Timecapsule and decided against it. The problem was to little in the way of flexibility for the given cost. I was actually think of going either NAS or a mire traditional Linux server, now I will wait.

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(of which I have also expounded upon more than once in these forums) to complement the 'new' paradigm of computing; that being assorted smartphones, tablets & media devices (TV) being sorted & synced to the central unit (the Home Server)

If all of that happens over WiFi transparently that would be fantastic. Honestly though they could offer up the syncing over WiFi to your primary computer. You see syncing to me is slightly different than having what amounts to a smart Time Capsule.

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Power users will, of course, still buy laptops & iMacs and the such

Power Users? You can't be serious. Owning a laptop or iMac does not mean you are a power user.

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For my rant on Apple Home Servers see:

A good home server would be a wonderful thing no doubt there. Especially if it can serve up your media needs, do the backup thing and other server chores. I honestly wonder if A5 is up to the task. However iOS would be perfect for this task as it is both secure and relatively fast.

In any event I'm actually hoping for a vastly improved Time Capsule / home server device next week. Not a start but rather something that fits into a Mini case and is salable next week.

While a milled aluminum case would be greener than white plastic and help the device run cooler I worry about the cost.

I've yet to see a decent analysis of what "greener" is (and don't get me started about the mostly well meaning, but moronic efforts of Greenpeace.)
Aluminum is more valued as a recycling material and is pretty easily recyled, but it contains a huge amount of embodied energy in it's extraction, production, and recycling.
On the other hand, many plastics can be efficiently reused, if properly formulated, and are essentially produced from petroleum waste products. But most of it ends up in a landfill or the ocean. The greenest things Apple does are making energy effiecient, low packing waste products that people love, and that last 3 or 4 times as long as competing products. Their recent move toward better recyclability and lower toxicity is a great bonus.

I've yet to see a decent analysis of what "greener" is (and don't get me started about the mostly well meaning, but moronic efforts of Greenpeace.)
Aluminum is more valued as a recycling material and is pretty easily recyled, but it contains a huge amount of embodied energy in it's extraction, production, and recycling.
On the other hand, many plastics can be efficiently reused, if properly formulated, and are essentially produced from petroleum waste products. But most of it ends up in a landfill or the ocean. The greenest things Apple does are making energy effiecient, low packing waste products that people love, and that last 3 or 4 times as long as competing products. Their recent move toward better recyclability and lower toxicity is a great bonus.

I can't say I agree with your assessment. That longevity o their products is in part because they use of aluminum over plastic. I don't recall any aluminium chassis replacement programs.

I believe bauxite to aluminum is a 4:1 ratio. I also seem to recall aluminum that was minded over 100 years ago accounts for most of the "new" aluminium used today due to recycling, so even with an initial cost to the environment the total cost of pollution not unlike the TCO of Macs* is lower.

I have a friend who buys a new "green" car ever year because she thinks she's helping the environment when all she's doing is helping the economy. You have a lower carbon footprint by buying an old car.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

Start I hope it is a reality! Ideally this will be a server that can live without 24/7 Internet access and is suitably portable.

As it is I was in the Apple store just a couple of weeks ago looking at Timecapsule and decided against it. The problem was to little in the way of flexibility for the given cost. I was actually think of going either NAS or a mire traditional Linux server, now I will wait.

If all of that happens over WiFi transparently that would be fantastic. Honestly though they could offer up the syncing over WiFi to your primary computer. You see syncing to me is slightly different than having what amounts to a smart Time Capsule.

Power Users? You can't be serious. Owning a laptop or iMac does not mean you are a power user.

A good home server would be a wonderful thing no doubt there. Especially if it can serve up your media needs, do the backup thing and other server chores. I honestly wonder if A5 is up to the task. However iOS would be perfect for this task as it is both secure and relatively fast.

In any event I'm actually hoping for a vastly improved Time Capsule / home server device next week. Not a start but rather something that fits into a Mini case and is salable next week.

Depending on how they package the solution, I should think an A5 could handle it. I see several options.

1) a basic server/backup/sync/router for homes without a computer and a few iDevices only -- $99-$149 including iCloud services.

2) a more robust offering with more RAM, more HDD storage to handle several computers and more iDevices

3) a Pro model with unlimited HDD (external RAID) for home and professional use-- editing videos with FCPX, etc.

Where it gets interesting, is that #3 could in effect be multiple #2s (and even #1s) .

There is no reason that several A5 "little boxes" couldn't each handle part of the "home server" function -- as your needs increase, just pug in another "little box" and it automatically joins the "home server" team and assumes its share of the work.

Apple already has software that does much of this -- some in OS X, some in iOS and some in FCP.

"Swift generally gets you to the right way much quicker." - auxio -

"The perfect [birth]day -- A little playtime, a good poop, and a long nap." - Tomato Greeting Cards -

I can't say I agree with your assessment. That longevity o their products is in part because they use of aluminum over plastic. I don't recall any aluminium chassis replacement programs.

I believe bauxite to aluminum is a 4:1 ratio. I also seem to recall aluminum that was minded over 100 years ago accounts for most of the "new" aluminium used today due to recycling, so even with an initial cost to the environment the total cost of pollution not unlike the TCO of Macs* is lower.

I have a friend who buys a new "green" car ever year because she thinks she's helping the environment when all she's doing is helping the economy. You have a lower carbon footprint by buying an old car.

I think you misunderstood me. But your response does confirm my main point, which is that assessing "greenness" is usually not done very rigorously and is not easy.
Indeed, Al is very recyclable. But does take a huge amount of energy to remelt it (at around 700°C.) Then there's the reforming, milling, finishing etc. (the precesses used impact the calculation as much as the choice of material.) Steel and aluminum definitely are more benign than plastic though. Throw them away and the first two are no problem while plastic is often a big problem.
Anyway, Apple products have almost always been sturdier than competitors. Even the original Macs with heavy lead glass CRTs, steel/aluminum chassis, and all plastic cases were objects of desire that lasted almost forever. Psychologically, they were hard to throw away (I had 2 Mac+ or Classics or something [one of the last B&W models] that I only got rid of a few years ago when Apple offered a recycling discount.)

RE Green Car:
My 1997 Saturn SW2 has 200k miles, still looks pretty nice (if a bit dated) and it has always gotten 30 MPG. I bet we both agree it is my greenest vehicle choice for at least another 100k miles or so.

I believe the A5 should be fast enough to do light home serving needs as most of your low end NAS units have been using ARM cores for years and more recently have started using ATOM processors which aren't that much faster than an A5.

The key is to start out conservative and not overwhelm consumers. Do NOT call it a Server in any way or many will freak out lol.

I'd love to see a Time Capsule that has a 2TB and 3TB hard drive along with external expansion via USB.

I want Airplay and Airprint support so I can stream from a Time Capsule directly to an Apple TV. I want the ability to partition the 2 or 3 TB drive so that I can say do a portion for Time Machine backups and then the rest for media.

I want to be able to access the Time Capsule via Back to My Mac by simply plugging in my Apple ID. I want to be able to create WebDAV folders for easy sharing of files without a computer in the chain.

I want to be able to cache updates so that I can save bandwidth by downloading the Mac and iOS updates that I need once.

I want iCloud support and the ability to cache streaming video files and Airplay them to whatever device I want.

I want a Universal Airport Utility for configuring

The next generation would come in two years and offer quad core processing and many more advancements from iOS 7

He's a mod so he has a few extra vBulletin privileges. That doesn't mean he should stop posting or should start acting like Digital Jesus.- SolipsismX

I also seem to recall aluminum that was minded over 100 years ago accounts for most of the "new" aluminium used today due to recycling, . . .

I forgot to say that you got this backwards.
It should be,
"Most (@75%) of the Aluminum mined 100 years ago is still used today, due to recycling."
Because Al is essentially infinitely reusable it's use in production has expanded greatly. For many years now (in the US, at least) about 1/3 of Al production comes from recycled materials and 2/3 from newly mined Bauxite.

I forgot to say that you got this backwards.
It should be,
"Most (@75%) of the Aluminum mined 100 years ago is still used today, due to recycling."
Because Al is essentially infinitely reusable it's use in production has expanded greatly. For many years now (in the US, at least) about 1/3 of Al production comes from recycled materials and 2/3 from newly mined Bauxite.

I think my ironic inclusion of the word "new" is making my sentence confusing. If you remove it it still reads the same way I intended: "I also seem to recall aluminum that was minded over 100 years ago accounts for most of the aluminium used today due to recycling."

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

I think my ironic inclusion of the word "new" is making my sentence confusing. If you remove it it still reads the same way I intended: "I also seem to recall aluminum that was minded over 100 years ago accounts for most of the aluminium used today due to recycling."

But it doesn't.
Aluminum production didn't get rolling until the 1880's. Aluminum mined more than 100 years ago is unlikely to amount to more than a fraction of a % of just the last year's production of Aluminum from newly mined Bauxite.
Aluminum melted in the past year originates 2/3 from new ore and 1/3 from recycled Aluminum scrap (of any age.)

But it doesn't.
Aluminum production didn't get rolling until the 1880's. Aluminum mined more than 100 years ago is unlikely to amount to more than a fraction of a % of just the last year's production of Aluminum from newly mined Bauxite.
Aluminum melted in the past year originates 2/3 from new ore and 1/3 from recycled Aluminum scrap (of any age.)

Ah, you are correct, I see the difference in our statements. I'm multitasking here so my attention is split. I did mean to write to what you quoted not the "accounts for" bit in my statement.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

Ah, you are correct, I see the difference in our statements. I'm multitasking here so my attention is split. I did mean to write to what you quoted not the "accounts for" bit in my statement.

No prob.
As a former geologist I've heard many people assert what (I think) you said (whether or not you meant it.) It's become an oft repeated "urban legend" kind of fallacy. The infinite recyclability of Aluminum is amazing enough without the accidental exaggeration of it. (I think I first head the exaggerated story on a foundry tour in my home town with Explorer Scouts.

I would love this, especially if this meant that my ATV2 (which is connected to my LAN) could also become a second base station for my wireless. All the hardware is there in the ATV2, it only needs the software.

I can't say I agree with your assessment. That longevity o their products is in part because they use of aluminum over plastic. I don't recall any aluminium chassis replacement programs.

A badly designed aluminum component is just as bad as a poorly designed plastic one.

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I believe bauxite to aluminum is a 4:1 ratio. I also seem to recall aluminum that was minded over 100 years ago accounts for most of the "new" aluminium used today due to recycling, so even with an initial cost to the environment the total cost of pollution not unlike the TCO of Macs* is lower.

Aluminum does recycle well. In fact there are whole hobbies dedicated to using recycled aluminum to build things with. Look up the hobby casting sites and Gingery Machines for examples. Still each the melt down process is not without its expenses and impacts.

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I have a friend who buys a new "green" car ever year because she thinks she's helping the environment when all she's doing is helping the economy. You have a lower carbon footprint by buying an old car.

This is something I've come to realize, the high turn over rate for automobiles that we as Americans have been programmed to engage in is pretty bad. There are many factors but the last couple of vehicles I've owned I ran until they became to troublesome, in the last case 9 years. It isn't just an environmental impact either the drain on ones finances is significant. Sadly the motivation to buy new frequently seems to be all about appearances.

Sadly the motivation to buy new frequently seems to be all about appearances.

Yup that is it entirely. Plus the false idea that when a car is 3 years old it is better to replace it before it has breakdowns instead of repairing it. I keep cars a long time. I had my GTI for 16 years. Granted new cars have better efficiency and pollution controls, but manufacturing a new car is way more wasteful of resources and energy than keeping an old one that pollutes a little more.

Edit: Except for cars (and trucks in particular) that are really old and have little or no pollution controls. These are gross polluters and completely negate the idea of keeping an older vehicle to use fewer manufacturing resources.